Bed mattress

ABSTRACT

A bed mattress including an outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing ( 1 ) in distinct transverse regions wherein fixed supportive materials ( 7, 9, 11 ) are provided at the top and bottom regions of said mattress corresponding to the head and foot regions of a user; and an intermediate region so formed between is provided with a transverse assay of fixed supportive materials ( 11 ) having vacant regions between adjacent materials, wherein said outer casing has a plurality of ports ( 4 ) corresponding to said vacant regions which are adapted to facilitate the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more auxiliary supportive materials ( 10 ) so as to allow the user to vary the supportive quality of said intermediate region of said mattress.

INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to bed mattresses and in particular to amattress adapted to incorporate a plurality of differing support zones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Bedding mattresses are available in a wide range of types andconfigurations offering a variety of support conditions for the user.

[0003] A principal object of a bed mattress is to provide optimalsupport for the user commensurate with their physical and medicalrequirements. Such optimal support requires the mattress to conformsubstantially to the shape of the users body when resting on themattress. Unfortunately, most available mattresses react proportionallyto the weight distribution of the users body, compressing most where thebody is heaviest and least where the body is lightest. This results inmattress conformation which does not reflect the actual physical shapeof the users body, but rather reflects a shape imposed on the mattressby the weight distribution of the body. Accordingly, the users bodyadopts a shape which results from the weight distribution of bodysegments which does not reflect the actual body shape when resting on astandard mattress. The users skeleton is then twisted and distorted tofit the shape of the mattress as it has reacted to the users weightdistribution.

[0004] The areas of greatest distortion are the shoulder and lumbar/hipregions. The shoulders are usually the widest part of the human body butoccur at the lightest region of the torso. Accordingly the shoulders,when a user is resting on their side, do not push a mattress down muchin accordance with the body shape resulting in a degree of twisting ofthe body when the user is sleeping on their side. In contrast to theshoulder and upper torso region, the hips and lumbar region of the torsoare generally much heavier and this region of the users body willcompress that part of a mattress disproportionately. In standardmattresses of uniform stiffness this results in the pelvis region beingthe lowest supported part of the body. Furthermore, the close proximityof the hip region to the waist region of the user tends to deprive thewaist, and important lumbar region, of the user with adequate support asthe mattress is highly compressed at the hip region and the adjoiningarea of the mattress leading into the lumbar region is also compressedwhere it should actually be providing support.

[0005] In order to provide optimal support a bed mattress should be ableto react independently to the different regions of the users body and atleast able to provide dedicated support for the upper, middle and lowertorso regions which all have quite distinct weight distribution andsupport requirements.

[0006] An analysis of these three regions designated Region “C” forupper torso; Region “B” for middle torso; and Region “P” for lowertorso, highlights the different requirements needed to provide optimalsupport.

[0007] Given that the weight of the lower torso (pelvis region “P”) Wpis about 130% of the weight of the middle torso (Belly region “B”) Wb;and the weight of the upper torso (chest region “C”) Wc is about 50% ofthe weight of Wb.

[0008] Then Wb=Wp/1.3=0.77 Wp

[0009] Wc=0.5 Wb=0.39 Wp

[0010] If the mattress deflection at region B is minimal—say 15 mm andthe lumbar curve of a users spine is about 60 mm then for a mattress ofuniform stiffness or elasticity, deflection at region P and region Cshould be about 15+60 mm=75 mm. Such a deflection will require a springstiffness Kb of

(75/15)×[(1.0/1.3)×Kp]=385% Kp

[0011] The spring stiffness Kc at region C should be

(0.5/1.3)×Kp=39% Kp

[0012] In summary, in order to provide optimal support over the regionC, B and P the following general variation in spring stiffness would bedesirable. Upper Middle Lower Torso Kc Torso Kb Torso Kp 0.4 Kp 3.8 KpKp Kc 9.5 Kc 2.5 Kc 0.1 Kb Kb 0.26 Kb

[0013] Such variation in spring stiffness is not usually available inproduction mattresses. The high cost of producing a mattress with suchdegrees of variation in stiffness plus the differing height of the enduser necessitating different placement of regions C, B and P hasprohibited the manufacture and availability of mattresses with suchperformance characteristics to date.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

[0014] In one aspect the invention provides a bed mattress including anouter casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportivematerials within said casing in a distinct region wherein said outercasing provides for the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement ofone or more of said supportive materials without dismantling saidmattress or said casing so as to allow a user to vary the supportivequality of said distinct region of said mattress.

[0015] The distinct region or regions may be orientated transverselyalong the length of the mattress to correspond with the differentregions of the users body. In such embodiments, the supportive materialsmay be inserted through a side wall of the mattress.

[0016] The supportive materials may be selected from any suitableproducts including inner spring segments, foam, latex, padding, rolledcotton, loose filling, water bladder sections etc.

[0017] The outer casing provides the necessary housing for assemblingthe selection of supportive materials and may be formed of foam or softfabric, having side edges, top and bottom edges and a top and bottomface.

[0018] Ports in the outer casing may provide access to regions of themattress to allow modification of the in situ supporting material toincrease or decrease local areas of stiffness.

[0019] In another aspect the invention provides a bed mattress includingan outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of differentsupportive materials within said casing in distinct transverse regionswherein fixed supportive materials are provided at the top and bottomregions of said mattress corresponding to the head and foot regions of auser; and an intermediate region so formed between is provided with atransverse array of fixed supportive materials having vacant regionsbetween adjacent materials, wherein said outer casing has a plurality ofports corresponding to said vacant regions which are adapted tofacilitate the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one ormore auxiliary supportive materials so as to allow the user to vary thesupportive quality of said intermediate region of said mattress.

[0020] The array of fixed supporting means may be a bank of innersprings formed in transverse rows, although any suitable supportivematerials can be used.

[0021] The intermediate zone may be bordered by a foam edge having slotopenings or apertures corresponding to the vacant spaces between rows toreceive the supportive materials which can be slid in between said rowsto provide additional support to the said intermediate zone.

[0022] The outer casing of the mattress may be provided with portopenings on the side edges thereof corresponding to said intermediatezone.

[0023] The invention will be described in greater detail with referenceto the following figures.

[0024]FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the improvedbed mattress;

[0025]FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the mattress;

[0026]FIG. 3 shows one example of the improved bed mattress.

[0027]FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

[0028]FIG. 5 shows the intermediate section of the mattress.

[0029]FIG. 6 shows detail of the intermediate section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The invention will now be described with reference to twoparticular embodiments as detailed in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0031] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the improved bed mattress of theinvention can be seen to include an outer casing 1 formed of a compliantand suitably tactile material. The outer casing takes the form anddimensions of a standard mattress including single, double, queen orking. The outer casing has two side edges, a top edge, bottom edge andtop and bottom faces. The casing includes an internal volume 2 adaptedto receive one or more supporting materials 3. The supporting materialsform the foundation of the mattress. The particular features andprovisions of the invention provide for a plurality of supportingmaterials to be housed in the single casing 1 so as to form distinctiveregions, but which function as an integrated mattress.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 2, the supporting materials are selectedwith varying and appropriate degrees of stiffness and resilience tosuitably support the various regions of the users body. The outer casing1 is provided with ports 4 and cover sections 5 so as to provide accessto the internal volume 2 to enable the insertion and interchanging ofvarious supporting materials within the internal volume 2 of themattress. The particular features of the invention allow for the readymixing and juxtapositioning of a number of supporting materials whichcan be drawn from inner spring mattress sections, solid or cellfoam,rubber or any of the type of supporting materials currently available.The outer casing 1 may be provided with a central longitudinal divider 6where the mattress is to be used for dual occupancy.

[0033] In the case of dual occupancy, ports can be provided at eitherend of the outer casing to allow ready insertion of pre configuredsupporting materials. Alternatively, supporting material regions can bebuilt up by side access.

[0034] The outer case may also incorporate the features disclosed inAustralian Patent 681903 to provide a fully integrated hybrid mattresshaving smooth transition between the various interfaces.

[0035] In use, the invention allows a mattress to be made up withdiscreet zonings or regions to provide adequate or dedicated optimalsupport over the Regions C, B and P of a user's body as previouslydescribed.

[0036] The invention provides for the first time, the ability to composean “ideal” mattress which takes into full account the different heightsand physical attributes of the user.

[0037] People of different height will lie on a bed with their head onthe pillow which is generally placed at the head of the bed. The headrequires a certain amount of support; from there, the upper torso RegionC requires a support material of low stiffness which allows therelatively low mass of the upper torso to sink into a soft region of themattress. The middle torso Section B generally requires a stiffer typeof support to counteract the weight of the lower torso Region P. Suchadditional stiffening can be provided by auxiliary inserts 10 in theform of high density foam bars which can be inserted through one of theports 4 to reinforce and increase the stiffness of the middle torsoRegion B to counteract the weight and distortion caused by the lowertorso Region P.

EXAMPLE ONE

[0038] Referring to FIG. 3, one particularly preferred embodiment of theinvention includes the use of standard inner spring mattress supportmaterials (having transverse rows of springs) in regions 7 and 8. Inregion 9, a foam or latex rubber support is used. The stiffness ofregions 7 and 8 is selected as 1 Kp and the stiffness of region 9 isselected as 0.4 Kp or preferably in the range of 0.3-0.95 Kp. In orderto locally stiffen up the lumbar region a number of high density foamstrips are inserted transversely through the rows of springs in order toincrease the stiffness of region 8 at the area required to providelumbar support.

[0039] Of course, if the stiffness of the supporting materials inregions 7 and 9 require alteration, the mattress of the invention allowsready access to those zones via the appropriate port in the side edge ofthe casing.

EXAMPLE TWO

[0040] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the bedmattress is formed with porting provisions only in the central or lumberregion of the mattress and supporting materials 7 and 9 are permanentlyincorporated at the head and foot regions. FIGS. 4 to 6 show one exampleof this particular embodiment of the invention where the port region 4is positioned mid-way along the mattress unit with the outer casing 1being provided with a port opening 4 mid-way along either side edgethereof which can be opened and closed for ready and immediate access bythe zip 12 which could, of course, be replaced by other closure means.The particular embodiment of the invention would be supplied with aselection of supporting materials 7 and 9 in accordance with the usersrequirements and the central region could be fitted with supportingmaterial in the form of a cage of inner springs 11 fitted within a foamhousing 13 such that the individual rows of springs 14 are positioned tocorrespond with port openings 4 in the foam housing such that auxiliarysupporting material in the form of stiffening bars 10 can be readilyinserted into the cage 11 to provide ready tailoring of the supportprovided in this critical region of the mattress. Referring now to FIG.5, the mattress can be seen to comprise fixed regions of supportingmaterials 7 and 9 at either end with the supporting materials 9 forminga “softer shoulder zone” traversing most of the mattress. The supportmaterial for this “C” zone would most preferably have acompression/weight rating Kc being in the range of perhaps 0.95 to0.3Kp. The intermediate zone has a “scaled down” version of an innerspring mattress in the form of the spring cage 11 which is formed of aplurality of springs formed in rows such that the gaps between the rowscorrespond to the openings 14 in the foam cage thereby allowing readyinsertion and removal or adjustment of the stiffening bars 10.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, openings 14 may be omitted such thatthe rows of springs themselves define positions into which thestiffening bars 10 may be inserted. The stiffening bars would beprovided in a range of stiffnesses and heights such that a wide rangeand variety of personalised adjustment can be effected by the user ofthe mattress of the invention without major disruption to the structureof the mattress. It is even possible with the mattress of the inventionto effect adjustment of the support without having to undo or removebedding from the mattress. All that is required is to lift up thebedding from one side, undo the zip or closure 12 and adjust thestiffening bars 10 as required.

[0041] The particular advantages of this embodiment of the inventioninclude the elimination of the need to provide minimal support to theregion 7 and 9 of the mattress which would be required if the wholemattress were to be adjustable in order to allow for the lowest supportdenominator which can be adjusted up in stiffness. The most importantregion of the mattress requiring adjustment is the lumbar region andaccordingly, with this embodiment of the invention, the supportingregion 7 and 9 can be provided with a limited range of stiffnessescatering for the range of requirements for the user, or may be omittedaltogether, and only the important lumbar region need be provided withthe lower range of stiffness which is adjustable by the provision of thestiffening bars 10. Furthermore, in order to provide full access to therange of stiffnesses provided over the mattress, the outer casing 1 ofthis embodiment of the invention is preferably of particularly compliantand soft material allowing maximum transparency of feel and stiffness tothe internal mattress structure. Of course if the requirements of theuser dictate a softer lumber and firmer shoulder regions, the inventioncan readily provide such a configuration.

[0042] In use, the user would lie on the mattress causing the lowertorso region to distort to the greatest degree. The stiffening bars 10will prevent the adjacent lumbar region responding and provide thenecessary support. The upper torso region 9 will allow the light area ofthe body to sink into the mattress thereby maintaining the overall shapeof the user's body while providing full support over the length of themattress.

[0043] The ability of the current invention to provide for the mosaicingof various supporting materials of different stiffness and the abilityof the mattress to provide ready access for tailoring those regions bythe provision of stiffening bars etc allows for the first time, acommercially viable mattress which can be mass produced as a generalmattress and specifically tailored to accommodate the various regions ofthe body by providing dedicated supporting means for the disparateregions C, B and P of the user's body. The invention provides for thefirst time a mattress that can provide a practical solution by havingthe “weight contours” of a user much more closely approximated to the“shape contours” of the user in order to provide optimal support forthat user on the mattress.

[0044] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art thatnumerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention asshown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodimentsare, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

1. A bed mattress including an outer casing adapted to house one or aplurality of different supportive materials within said casing indistinct regions wherein said outer casing provides for the readyinsertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more of said supportivematerials without dismantling said mattress or said casing so as toallow a user to vary the supportive quality of said distinct regions ofsaid mattress.
 2. A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said outercasing is compliant and formed around the edges of said mattress todefine the boundary of said mattress and may incorporate one or moreports to provide access to one or more of said supportive materials soas to provide for the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement ofsaid supportive materials.
 3. A mattress according to claim 1 or 2wherein said ports are provided along the side edges of said casing andsaid different supportive materials are delineated transversely acrossthe width of said mattress.
 4. A mattress according to claim 2 or 3wherein said ports correspond to the regions of delineated supportivematerials to facilitate insertion, removal and/or replacement of saidsupportive materials.
 5. A bed mattress including an outer casingadapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materialswithin said casing in distinct transverse regions wherein fixedsupportive materials are provided at the top and bottom regions of saidmattress corresponding to the head and foot regions of a user; and anintermediate region so formed between is provided with a transverseassay of fixed supportive materials having vacant regions betweenadjacent materials, wherein said outer casing has a plurality of portscorresponding to said vacant regions which are adapted to facilitate theready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more auxiliarysupportive materials so as to allow the user to vary the supportivequality of said intermediate region of said mattress.
 6. A mattressaccording to claim 5, wherein the fixed supportive materials in saidintermediate region are configured to provide the lowest supportdenominator expected for a given user, which support is readilyincreased by addition of said auxiliary supportive materials.
 7. Amattress according to claims 1 to 6 wherein said supportive materialsare selected from any one of a combination of known materials includinginner spring segments, foam, latex, padding, rolled cotton, loosefilling and water bladders.
 8. A mattress according to claim 5 or 6wherein the fixed supportive materials in said intermediate region areinner spring supports.
 9. A mattress according to any one of claims 1 to8 wherein said outer casing is formed of compliant material and saidports are formed as apertures in said casing.
 10. A mattress accordingto any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said outer casing is furtherprovided with ports at the top and/or bottom edges of said mattress. 11.A mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said outercasing is further provided with top and bottom faces to fully enclosesaid supportive materials.
 12. A mattress according to any one of claims1 to 11 further including an outer cover having access to said ports.13. A bed mattress including a compliant outer casing having distincttransverse regions corresponding to the head, foot and intermediateregions of a users body for housing a plurality of different supportivematerials within said casing wherein said head and foot regions areadapted for housing fixed supportive materials and said intermediateregion is adapted for housing supportive material in the form oftransverse rows of inner springs wherein the side edges of said casingcorresponding to said intermediate regions are provided with a pluralityof ports aligned between said rows of inner springs to allow readyinsertion of an auxiliary supportive material between said springs so asto allow said user to vary the supportive quality of said intermediateregion.
 14. A bed mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 13substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to thefigures.